Running Time: 108 minutes
This motion picture from Lionsgate opens exclusively at movie theaters on September 12th.
Sometimes, movies can bring remarkable happiness, delivering humor and an upbeat narrative that can even result in, as the French might say, a sense of “joie de vivre,” after the credits roll. Other pictures, no less important or effective, have other goals on their mind. The Long Walk is one example of a grim story that takes viewers down a particularly bleak path. But in spite of the tone, the film benefits from an excellent, relatable and likable young cast whom viewers will see put through the ringer.
Based on a 1979 novel by Stephen King (written under pen name Richard Bachman), the story alludes to a future that doesn’t seem all that fantastic. The United States has become a totalitarian state, with the country isolated and in economic ruin. Against the wishes of his mother (Judy Greer), Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) enters the annual “Long Walk”, a 50-person contest in which one competitor from each state partakes in a televised walk for as long as they can last. Any participant who falls below three miles per hour is given a warning, with three admonishments before the competitor is shot dead.
This event is seen as a way to inspire the nation to work harder and eliminate laziness. The last man standing wins anything they want from The Major (Mark Hamill), and freedom from a life in poverty. Garraty quickly befriends fellow competitor Peter McVries (David Jonsson), and over the course of the grueling challenge other young men like Stebbins (Garrett Wareing), Gary Barkovich (Charlie Plummer), Hank (Ben Wang), Arthur (Tut Nyuot) and Collie (Joshua Odjick) also form bonds with each other.
The entire running time features a group of 20-ish characters walking together on an open road. This group grows more exhausted with every step. They begin to let their guards down and open up as they continue down an unending road. Initially, a few individuals are competitive and ready to throw each other under the bus, but cliques soon form, changing the interactions. And as each day passes, more begin to explain their reasons for entering. Some young men are simple and/or naïve in their rationalization, though most ultimately admit the strife that is leading them to this last resort.
In spite of the grim stakes, there are a few humorous comments and jokes between group members. And as they become friendlier, Garraty and McVries initiate more talks about their pasts, the government and their outlooks on life. One is, in some respects, sunnier than the other, and it’s interesting to hear the characters express their views, as well as see how those ideas change over the course of events.
As you might imagine, much of the movie is dependent on the work of the performers. None of this works if the cast aren’t up to the challenge of creating distinctive and memorable individuals who interact authentically. Thankfully, everyone here does the job with surprising ease. Cooper Hoffman has been the lead in pictures like Licorice Pizza, and David Jonsson made a notable impression in Alien: Romulus, but they are given even more time to shine here. The emotional extremes on display over the course of the tale must have been incredibly difficult to navigate, but these leads and their cohorts pull it off exceptionally.
This is a very harsh and brutal movie that doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to depicting the horror of the competition. These characters don’t have many options in front of them as the walk extends, and their bodies and minds slowly break down. The movie promises no easy solutions or hastily thrown together plans to usurp those overseeing these youngsters or get them out of trouble. It makes the drama of the scenario all the more chilling.
Admittedly, it is a long time spent trudging along, and one critique is that the film at times goes a little far in graphically showing its executions, employing obvious CGI effects. One understands the need to shock the audience early on, but at times the effects are noticeably artificial. The film might have benefitted from a subtle and practical, but no less shocking, approach.
Despite a few little issues, this genre film still exceeds expectations. The dark and distressing source material was considered a difficult one to adapt into a feature film. The Long Walk shows that, gloomy as it might be, when all are united in mounting a compelling story, the end results can hit home and make a lasting impression.